Ananya Parekh, 7, a P.S. 41 student and Washington Square Village resident, sought out eggplant among the many vegetables she picked during the recent harvest at New York University’s “model farm” on W. Houston St. near LaGuardia Place.

Actor, comedian and now bestselling author Russell Brand paid a visit to Zuccotti Park and Occupy Wall St. Tuesday afternoon, a few days before Occupy’s third anniversary. He spoke a bit to the crowd of around 200, then then marched down Broadway to Wall St. and spoke on the steps of the Federal Hall. He read more here »

No, these weren’t otherworldly black monoliths and they weren’t for filming a sequel to “2001: A Space Odyssey” in La Plaza Cultural last Saturday afternoon. They were sculptures, by Toronto artist Ryan Legassicke, part of the installation “Shadows: Wall Disease.” There were five of them, life-sized representations of sections of walls “used to block access read more here »

At the Lower East Side Harvest Festival’s opening party, music and creativity were in full bloom. Felice Rosser, above, of the band Faith performed at Green Oasis, on E. Eighth St. Meanwhile, around the corner, state Senator Brad Hoylman and his daughter, Silvia, below, dropped by La Plaza Cultural, on E. Ninth St., to paint. Other read more here »

On Oct. 7, a new plaque was unveiled on the exterior of 2 Fifth Ave., commemorating former resident Bella Abzug, left, who served in Congress in the 1970s. Among those joining Abzug’s family members at the dedication were Villager Edie Windsor — the plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit that overturned the Defense of Marriage Act read more here »

Determined to be in even better shape for their second season, the Lower East Side Lady Furies cut the ribbon to start their winter clinic the other weekend. Joining the team and their coach, Damien Acevedo, far left, were Erik Bottcher, Governor Cuomo’s local liaison, second from left, and Councilmember Margaret Chin, front row, fourth read more here »

Early Sunday afternoon, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a crew of canines and a couple cats in carriers were brought to the W. Houston St. garden side of St. Anthony’s Church, on Sullivan St., to be blessed. Father Joe, above left, conducted the ceremony and prayers, then he and Brother Courtland spritzed holy water on read more here »

Zum Schneider — the Avenue C Bavarian bierhaus and restaurant — held a traditional Oktoberfest last Friday to Sunday on E. 23rd St. along the river. Dubbed “Munich on the East River,” it was billed as New York’s largest Oktoberfest ever. The action — including near-constant hefting aloft of huge beer steins for toasts, chants, songs…well, read more here »